By Daniel Paiz

Basketball is something this writer has been enamored with since the beginning of time. As a Colorado alumnus and fan, the following is a double recap of both the CU Men’s and CU Women’s basketball teams who played 1st Round March Madness games today, March 22nd, 2024.

KJ Simpson’s Game Winner helps 10th-seeded Colorado Survive 7th-seeded Florida 102-100

Exciting, nerve-wracking games are becoming the norm for the Buffs in March. This 102-100 victory against Florida is not all that different from the exciting and hard-fought victory against Boise State on Wednesday night. Tonight, all five starters scored in double digits as the Buffs move onto the Round of 32. They’ll play the 2-seed Marquette on Sunday. 

Florida hit more threes, had more steals, more blocks, and caused the Buffs to turn it over. However, it came down to winning the rebound battle, assists battle, and shooting 63% from the field. It helps CU when you have highly underrated KJ Simpson hitting big shots at the end of each quarter to seal the deal. 

CU trailed by as many as 10 in the first quarter, partially due to Simpson’s turnovers. However, the Pac-12 1st Team All-Conference guard dropped 23 points, while Eddie Lampkin Jr. dropped 21 points and Tristan da Silva added 17 points. Simpson hit buzzer-beating shots both at the end of the first half, and with 1.7 seconds remaining.

Experience means a lot

Veterans are so important when it comes to tournament experience. Tristan da Silva and Luke O’Brien are the only holdovers from the 2021 tournament team, and their defensive efforts for most of the game encouraged their teammates to keep defending a Florida team that hits daggers from downtown. 

That experience was vital as the Buffs went from a 92-79 lead at the 4:49 mark to a tied game at 100 with 11 ticks remaining. This 21-10 Florida run was partially fueled by Lampkin Jr. and O’Brien fouling a bit too much, and turnovers. Getting out of rhythm happens when shots aren’t falling, but when a team prioritizes burning clock over running their offense, that’s when momentum shifts. Coach Tad Boyle will likely emphasize running the offense and keeping up movement on both sides of the ball; doing so might just punch this squad a ticket to the Sweet 16. 

Vonleh guides Buffs to 86-72 First Round Victory over Drake

A roller coaster is the best way to describe the CU Women’s Basketball squad’s start in this first round matchup with Drake. Aaronette Vonleh earned a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Kindyll Wetta added 16 points off the bench and Jaylyn Sherrod scored 16 points and dished out eight assists. Drake’s Katie Dinnebier earned 24 points and seven assists for the Bulldogs.

 After trailing 9-0 early to start the game, the Buffs slowly rallied to take a 15-14 lead with a Frida Formann lay-up at the 4:16 mark in the first. Fast forward to a 36-24 Buffs second quarter lead, where Vonleh is scoring, and the Buffs are moving the ball. Then for some unknown reason, CU starts turning the ball over and fouling Drake. 

Drake then outscored Colorado 17-10 to close out the half. Somehow, the five seed is up five, 46-41. Turnovers have to stop, ball movement has to go up, and defensive pressure will help to get the offense moving and grooving again. 

A Shift at Halftime

Vonleh is getting to the hoop again, as she notches 18 points and eight rebounds by the 7:46 mark of the third quarter. Getting points in the paint is how CU wins games, and it’s helping create separation. Turnovers by Drake are going up midway through the third. Sherrod’s lay-up highlights a third quarter layup line has turned into a 71-53 CU double-digit lead.

The fourth quarter is much like the championship rounds of a boxing or MMA match: a fight for survival. Momentum is very underrated and hangs in the balance as no one can score. From the 8:39 mark until the 5:52 mark, the score sits at CU up 73-57 (Buffs’ Tameiya Sadler hit a bucket to push CU to 75). Time does one of two things here. If your squad is up, it feels like an eternity is left; if yours is trailing, time is flying by. Maddie Nolan, Kindyll Wetta, and Jaylyn Sherrod have powered the Buffs in the second half, as the gap between Drake and Colorado will not close. Buffs win 86-72 and will play site host Kansas State on Sunday. 

The Buffs have to take better care of the ball. 20 assists to 19 turnovers aren’t a good ratio when playing a significantly better KSU squad. Drake’s 18 assists to 19 turnovers ratio is partially why CU didn’t pay for all those turnovers. Quay Miller and Jaylyn Sherrod combined had nine of those turnovers; those two are key to winning and must have fewer turnovers in the round of 32. Coach JR Payne likely will focus on boosting confidence and defensive pressure, as the Buffs will need to cause turnovers again to earn that Sweet 16 return ticket.